When does funny become offensive?

Maybe I'm more sensitive because I am an ethnic minority, but I can't help but think Doritos' new "Bollywood" TV spots are a little off-side. I know it's in the name of fun, but c'mon... where do you draw the line?

Whatever I think of the TV spot itself, I have to give kudos to the Doritos clients for fulfilling their brand promise and being BOLD themselves by running these spots!

FYI - I had these chips as part of a Subway value meal... and they're pretty nasty.

Screw LOVE!

Ever wonder how to integrate the launch of chocolate dipped mints and a worldwide holiday? Well, look no further than what Altoids Curious and Original Chocolate Shoppes are doing in New York, Chicago and Miami from Feb 8 - 14 in honour of Valentine's day. They'll be holding various activities, from Therapeutic Crafts for the Broken-Hearted, with free ‘Love Stinks’ needlepoint kits, to Love Lost Readings. The main feature, however, (drum roll please) is letting customers sample new Altoids Dark Chocolate Dipped Mints, accompanied by free lattes.

Product Placement Gone Wrong

With Tivo's and Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) popping up all over the place allowing customers to edit out commercials, marketers have been resorting to different tactics to reach their target markets. Viral online campaigns, guerilla street stunts... and yes... product placement.

But what makes a good product placement? For one, it can't seem contrived. It's got to be natural and seamless. And it should be relevant to the program / storyline. So far, reality shows have been the biggest offenders. Want a good laugh? Just check out what Staples did for this poker TV show.

Sunsilk Viral Video Gets 2.8M views

Unilever has admitted it was behind the 'amateur' Bride Wig-Out youtube video showing a psycho bride chopping off her own hair an hour before her wedding. The video is intended to promote Unilever's Sunsilk brand. Since its Jan. 18 release, the six-minute video, featuring the bridezilla character and her foul-mouthed brides, has been viewed 2.8 million times and spawned vigorous debate about whether it was actual footage of a bride's very bad hair day or an elaborate hoax.

The YouTube video creates a hair problem connected to the term "wig out." In Phase 2 of the campaign, Sunsilk will run television commercials that pick up on the "wig out" phraseology and offer solutions.

Now that Unilever has owned up to the video, will consumers find it funny or will they be turned-off by the hoax? And how many more companies will be able to have success on youtube before this medium starts to grow stale?

LR

MTV - Dolls

MTV has been running a campaign around condom use, with a number of controversial / bizarre ads. Check out a few here and some other really interesting spots by MTV can be found by searching under MTV on http://www.canadianadvertisingclub.com/
LR